| | Free & Open Source | A powerful open-source raster graphics editor for photo retouching, image composition, and authoring, available on Linux, macOS, and Windows. | - Completely free and open source under GPL — no subscription or one-time fee required
- Supports a wide range of file formats including PSD for Photoshop compatibility
| - Interface and workflow differ significantly from Photoshop, requiring a learning curve
- Lacks advanced features like non-destructive layer effects and native CMYK editing
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| | Free & Open Source | A professional open-source painting program designed for digital art, illustration, and concept art, with an exceptional brush engine. | - Fully free and open source under GPL with a welcoming and active community
- Exceptional brush engine and drawing tools that surpass Photoshop for digital artists
| - Optimised for painting and illustration rather than photo editing or compositing workflows
- Performance can struggle on very large files compared to Photoshop
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| | Free Free with ads in the browser; Pro plan at $5/month removes ads and enables offline use. | A free browser-based photo editor with a Photoshop-like interface that reads and writes PSD files with no download or installation needed. | - Runs entirely in the browser — no installation, works on any operating system or device
- Reads and writes PSD, AI, XCF, and Sketch files natively
| - Not open source; requires an internet connection for the free ad-supported version
- Performance is slower than native desktop apps for large files or complex projects
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| A Affinity Photo | Paid One-time purchase at $69.99 (version 2); no subscription required. Perpetual licence with paid upgrades for major versions. | A professional-grade photo editing desktop application with non-destructive editing, RAW processing, and a one-time purchase model. | - One-time purchase with no subscription — pay once and own it permanently
- Professional features including RAW processing, focus stacking, and HDR merging
| - Not free and not open source — requires an upfront purchase to use
- Smaller community and fewer third-party plugins than Adobe Photoshop
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